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Thai TG Kickboxer Triumphant in Debut

By Associated Press
Contributed by Elizabeth Parker, Jodie Miller and Rachelle Austin
Bangkok
February 25, 1998


Pirinya Kaibusaba Kaibusaba (right)
has 17 knockouts in 23
professional matches    (AP)
He may dress like a girl, but transvestite kickboxer Pirinya Kaibusaba proved to a sellout crowd of 10,000 fans Tuesday that he doesn't fight like one.

The 16-year-old sensation won his five-round fight convincingly by decision, pummeling opponent Oven So Boonya despite a cut over his left eye suffered during the Bangkok debut at Lumpini Stadium, the nation's mecca of Muay Thai, or Thai kickboxing.

And though he does powder his nose during training, Pirinya, from Lamphun, 560 kilometers (348 miles) north of Bangkok, is no powder puff in the ring.

Prior to his appearance in the capital, the young welterweight had already compiled a professional record of 20 wins, 2 losses and 17 knockouts in a sport where brutal kicks and elbows to the head are common. Still, pre-fight betting odds were running against Pirinya.

He kissed his opponent after the decision was announced in what appeared to be sweet revenge for a teasing embrace delivered by Oven just before the fight.

  Despite his primness, the prospect of a cut eye, broken nose, or cauliflower ear doesn't faze him.

"If I was afraid about my face, I wouldn't fight," said Pirinya, who wore makeup and pink nail polish at Tuesday's weigh-in. The young star's medium- length hair is dyed to a reddish tint -- as is fashionable now among Thais of both sexes -- and neatly tied back, about to the nape of the neck.

It was the weigh-in, where he tipped the scales at 63.4 kilograms (140 pounds) that presented Pirinya with his toughest test so far as a fighter. Boxing officials at Lumpini insist combatants tip the scales completely nude.

When ordered to strip in front of a phalanx of Thai and foreign reporters and cameramen, Pirinya broke down in tears. Lumpini officials, who are all members of the Thai military, eventually showed mercy and let the fighter retain his black jockey shorts.

Although Thai boxers are generally tattooed tough guys from poor farming country or Bangkok slums with a strong sense of machismo, many readily accept Pirinya.

"I thought it was strange when I heard there was a transvestite boxer, but I like to see people who like boxing -- I don't care who they are," said Pong Sudsaeng, who was also scheduled to fight Tuesday night at Lumpini.

Most Thais, in fact, accept transvestites. Locally they are called "katoeys" and are regarded as the third sex. Others have competed in sport successfully.

The two best players on Thailand's men's volleyball team were katoeys. However, officials from the volleyball association tossed them off the team in 1996 because they were afraid of what foreigners would think during international competitions.

Many Thais were baffled by the decision and surprised to learn foreigners were troubled by cross-dressing.

Although Pirinya is only 16, that's also not unusual for a Thai boxer. Many start when they are 10 or 12, and some headliners at Lumpini are just Pirinya's age. Most fight until their late-20s.

While children's rights activists decry the violence of kickboxing, none have protested to boxing officials or the government.

Officials already have their hands full fighting rampant child labor and trying to free the 300,000 children the United Nations Children's Fund estimates are prisoners in Thai brothels.

As for Pirinya, he says he isn't dreaming of championships or fame. He says he fights because he likes the "strange feeling" he gets in the ring.

"I don't think I'm fighting to be famous. I'd rather have a quiet life," he said. "I'll fight until I get bored with it."



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